Snow roller



Oct. 17, 1967 P. F. MEYER ETAL SNOW ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1964 Execufrix of the E s'vafe of John L. Wolfe, deceased INVENTORS. 406:...

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WWW fiMr Oct. 17, 1967 P. F. MEYER ETAL SNOW ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1964 Paul E Meyer Execufrix of the Esfafe of V/cfar/a l Wolfe,

John L. Wolfe, deceased [N VE N TORS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,346,973 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The machine disclosed is adapted to be hitched to and towed behind a sand truck or the like. The melting material or agent (sand, salt, cinders or the like) in the hopper is distributively spread in the path of a roll-along cleated drum. The snow is compacted to express air therefrom and the melting agent is simultaneously forced into the snow.

The present invention generally relates to new and useful improvements in snow rollers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts for applying a suitable melting agent or sand to the snow and immediately thereafter compressing said snow for ejecting the insulating air therefrom, forcing the agent thereinto and mixing said agent therewith, thus greatly increasing the effectiveness of the agent.

Another highly important object of the invention is to provide an implement of the aforementioned character comprising unique means, powered by the roller, for uniformly distributing or spreading the melting agent, sand, etc., in the path of said roller to be forced into the snow thereby.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snow roller of the character set forth wherein the operation of the distributor or spreader may be controlled from the operators seat of the towing vehicle.

Still another highly important object of this invention is to provide a novel method of melting snow.

Other objects are to provide a snow compacting and melting implement which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing an implement embodying the present invention hitched to a towing vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View in transverse section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic frame of suitable dimensions which is designated generally by reference numeral 6. The frame 6 comprises a pair of spaced, parallel side bars 8 between intermediate portions of which front and rear crossbars 10' and 12, respectively, extend. The frame 6 further comprises a generally V-shaped forward end portion including forwardly convergent bars 14 on the front ends of the side bars 8. A center brace 16 extends between the crossbar 10 and the joined forward ends of the bars 14. A suitable hitch 18 is provided for detachably connecting the device to the rear end portion of a tractor or towing vehicle 20.

Journalled between the rear end portions of the side bars 8 of the frame 6 is an axle 20. A compacting roller 22 is fixed on the axle 20. The tread or periphery of the roller 22 is provided with a multiplicity of snow penetrating cleats or lugs 24.

A weight box 26 is mounted on the frame 6 over the roller 22. The weight box 26 includes a transversely elongated shallow container or receptacle 28 which is supported by legs 30 on the rear end portions of the frame bars 8. Any suitable weights, such as building blocks 32, may be placed in the receptacle 28.

A distributor or spreader 34 is mounted on the frame 6 forwardly of the roller 22. The distributor 34 includes a transversely elongated hopper 36 for the reception of the material to be spread, as indicated at 38. The hopper 36 includes a forwardly opening hood or mouth 37 for receiving and deflecting the material 38 downwardly in a manner to facilitate loading said hopper and preventing waste. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the hopper 36 is mounted on the crossbars 10 and 12 of the frame 6. The hopper 36 includes a rounded bottom 40 having a longitudinal discharge slot 42 therein.

An agitator 44 is mounted for operation in the lower portion of the hopper 36. In the embodiment illustrated, the agitator 44 is in the form of an auger 46 comprising I a shaft 48 which extends through the end walls 50 of the hopper 36 and which has its end portions rotatably journalled in bearings 52 which are provided therefor on said end walls. Chain and sprocket drives 54 operatively connect the roller axle 20 to the end portions of the shaft 48. The drives 54 are releasably connected to the shaft 48 by suitable clutches 56 (see FIGURE 4) on the end portions of said shaft.

Forks 58 are pivotally mounted on the frame structure 6, as indicated at '60, for actuating the clutches 56. A rod 62 connects the forks 58 for operation in unison. A main cable 64 has one end connected, as at 66, to the clutch operating mechanism for engaging the clutches 56 for connecting the drives 54 to the agitator shaft 48. A return spring 68 is operatively connected to the rod 62 for disengaging the clutches 56. The cable 64 extends to the operators seat of the towing vehicle 20 for controlling the distributor 34 from that position. Also, a branch cable 65 is connected to an intermediate portion of the cable 64 whereby the drives 54 may be controlled from the rear end portion of the towing vehicle 20'. Spaced rings 67 on the cable 65 are selectively engageable with a hook 69 on the rear portion of the vehicle 20 for retaining the clutches in engaged or disengaged position. Similar means (not shown) is provided for the cable 64. Or, cleats may be mounted on the vehicle in lieu of hooks and the cables wound thereon. Suitable guides 70 are provided for the cable 64.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the hopper 36 may be filled in any desired manner, as by shoveling or through the medium of a conveyor from the towing vehicle 20 or from any other suitable source. As the implement is pulled forwardly by the towing vehicle 20, the clutches 56 are engaged for driving the agitator 44 from the roller 22. In this manner the material 38 in the hopper 36 is uniformly spread on the snow, as indicated at 72, in the path of the roller 22. Thus, as the snow 72 is compacted by the roller 22 with its penetrating cleats or lugs 24, the material 38 is forced into the snow and mixed therewith for greatly increased effectiveness.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A snow treating machine comprising, in combination, a towing vehicle, a frame connected to said towing vehicle, a snow compacting roller rotatably mounted on said frame, a hopper on the frame for receiving a snow melting agent, a distributor on the frame for depositing the agent in the path of the roller, a drive including a clutch for releasably connecting the roller to the distributor, a main cable operable from the front of the vehicle for controlling the clutch, a branch cable connected to the main cable and operable from the rear of the vehicle, and means for securing the clutch in engaged or disengaged position.

2. The combination of claim 1, the last-named means including at least one hook mounted on the vehicle, and a pair of spaced rings on at least one of the cables and engageable with the hook for adjustably anchoring the cable thereto.

3. A snow treating machine comprising, in combination,

4 a snow compacting roller, a frame mounted on said roller, means on the frame for depositing a melting agent on the snow in the path of the roller to be forced into the snow thereby, said means being characterized by a hopper mounted on said frame for reception and dispensing of the melting agent, said hopper having a discharge open-, ing an agitator for the melting agent operatively mounted within the confines of the hopper, and means for actuating said agitator, said last-named means comprising a chain and sprocket drive operatively connected to said roller, and a clutch device for releasably connecting said sprocket drive to said agitator.

4. The combination of claim 3, together with a weight box mounted on the frame over the roller.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,297,089 9/1943 Walsh 275--2 2,906,438 9/ 1959 Carpenter. 2,997,796 8/1961 Pogue 37-16 3,041,945 7/ 1962 McKinney 94-46 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. 1,078,153, March 1960.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A SNOW TREATING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SNOW COMPACTING ROLLER, A FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID ROLLER, MEANS ON THE FRAME FOR DEPOSITING A MELTING AGENT ON THE SNOW IN THE PATH OF THE ROLLER TO BE FORCED INTO THE SNOW THEREBY, SAID MEANS BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A HOPPER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR RECEPTION AND DISPENSING OF THE MELTING AGENT, SAID HOPPER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AN AGITATOR FOR THE MELTING AGENT OPERATIVELY MOUNTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE HOPPER, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID AGITATOR, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS COMPRISING A CHAIN AND SPROCKET DRIVE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROLLER, AND A CLUTCH DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID SPROCKET DRIVE TO SAID AGITATOR. 